Over the course of 20 years, I have witnessed my mother prepare some odd homemade remedy for an illness that my siblings or I had contracted. When young, I never really thought to question the effectiveness of these treatments, because I always believed that mother knew best. But now, I often wonder if there has been any scientific evidence that confirms the validity of the treatments my mother administered.

Of course, I am sure that mothers across the planet treat their kids with remedies with little to no scientific backing. In Brazil, for example, I would expect mothers to help relieve pain with the help of Brazilian mint (Hyptis crenata). Hyptis crenata has been used in traditional preparations to relieve pain. The leaves of Brazilian mint are often used in a tea, which is made by placing the leaves in water and boiling them for 30 minutes.

Scientific evidence of Brazilian mint’s medicinal properties was lacking until researchers at Newcastle launched a study to determine the validity of this curative herb. When researchers at Newcastle University tested Brazilian mint in mice and in people by using the traditional tea preparation, they found that the herb is as effective as the synthetic drug Indometacin in pain relief. This surely comes as great news to my Brazilian counterparts who questioned the truth behind their mothers’ homemade tonics; I hope that one day I, too, will be able to breathe that sigh of relief.

Discussion Question: What homemade remedies do you know of that have scientific backing?

News Article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091124204322.htm
Journal Article: G.S. Rocha, et al. ‘Antinociceptive Activities and Compounds of Hyptis crenata’, Acta Horticulturae. 25 November 2009.